Kentucky: Church Offers Free HIV Tests

In an effort to stop HIV/AIDS from spreading further into the African-American community, Louisville's Forest Baptist Church is hosting free HIV testing days on Wednesday, National HIV Testing Day, and on June 30. The local efforts are part of the national nonprofit Balm in Gilead's campaign to fight HIV/AIDS in Africa and US black communities. Metro Public Health & Wellness representatives will administer rapid-result oral HIV tests at the church events.

"The main reason we want to do this is because of the devastation AIDS is causing in the African-American community," said the Rev. John O. Crittenden, pastor of Forest Baptist. Young and old alike must learn the importance of knowing their HIV status, he said. "If we don't do anything we're going to lose a whole generation and will permit genocide to go on in our community."

"This is just the beginning," said Crittenden. "We don't see a light yet, but we know a light is there. The day there is a cure for HIV/AIDS or the day we can prevent a person from contracting the disease is when we'll feel like we're getting somewhere."

The church, located at 4500 Petersburg Rd., will offer HIV testing from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on June 30. For more information, telephone 502-454-0189.

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